PARK CITY, Kan.-While many of the drivers in Thursday’s opening event in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental came looking to score valuable points in a quest to be the 2015 USMTS National Champion, Jeremy Payne showed up just looking for a win and some good money.
He got both.

After setting the tone early by scoring the most passing points among the 43 heat race competitors, Payne redrew fourth to start the 40-lap feature race and quickly moved into second to challenge early leader Brian Franz.

After stalking the multi-time NCRA champion for 27 laps, Payne finally made the pass for the lead and then fended off another final last-lap effort to get to the checkered flag first and record the 20th win of his career, but first of the 2015 campaign.

“I knew I had a really good car and early I could run with him (Franz) but he kind of got away there,” Payne said. “His car was really good so I was kind of searching around and found a better line in (turns) one and two. I think he pushed one time when I had a good run, I got by him and that’s all she wrote.”

Payne got paid $3,000 for his efforts while Franz wasn’t as fortunate. Post-race technical inspections found the engine setback to be outside of the rulebook and Franz was disqualified, which moved 17th-starting Stormy Scott into the runner-up position.

Fourth-place finisher Ryan McAninch was also disqualified for a similar infraction, dropping him from fourth and jumping Jason Hughes, Rodney Sanders and Brent Larson into third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Sanders’s journey to a top-five finish was a strange and hard-fought one-and one that obviously was not part of the team’s game plan to capture a third straight USMTS National Championship.

On the first lap of Fast Shafts Heat Race #2, Sanders and fellow front-row starter Jon Thompson bumped going into the first corner. By the time they reached turn 3, it was visibly clear that something was broken on Sanders’s right front suspension, and before he could react the tire came off, slid underneath his racecar and catapulted his machine into the air.

He was unhurt in the rollover incident, and the team quickly prepared their back-up car for a last-place start in the second Real Racing Wheels “B” Main where he passed 15 cars en route to a fourth-place finish. He then advanced 16 spots in the “A” Main, and left the 81 Speedway as the points leader in the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental.

Jesse Sobbing came into the event atop the points standings, but had a night that was about as long as that of Sanders, albeit he kept his MB Customs on all four wheels all night.

After being unable to advance in his heat race, the Rookie of the Year points leader fumbled a transfer spot with two laps to go in his “B” Main, forcing him to take a provisional in the main event. Sobbing climbed as high as tenth in the feature, but suffered engine trouble on the final lap and plummeted to 15th.

Jake Gallardo finished sixth in the “A” Main, with 19th-starting Grant Junghans seventh, Dereck Ramirez eighth, 28th-starting Dan Powers ninth and Tad Davis tenth.

With one down and 14 races to go in The Hunt, Sanders leads Sobbing by five points (177 to 172) with Ramirez in third with 159 markers. The rest of the top 10 spots are Junghans (154), Cade Dillard (134), Zack VanderBeek (130), Casey Arneson (126), Scott (124) and Hughes (119) while Larson, Houston and Duvall are in a three-way tie for tenth with 112 points.

Friday finds the mud-slinging USMTS machines at the Humboldt Speedway in Humboldt, Kan. Gates open at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 8. USRA B-Mods, Stock Cars and Pure Stocks will round out the five-division card.

The Humboldt Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located off of US 169 at the Humboldt exit, then 0.1 mile west, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east on Georgia Rd. For more information check out www.humboldtspeedway.com.

Race fans can get discount coupons good for $2 off adult general admission at Casey’s General Stores locations in Chanute, Fredonia, Iola, Neodesha and Yates Center. Cade Dillard and his No. 97 Snickers machine will be greeting fans in person at the 712 E. Madison Ave. location in Iola from 12-2 p.m. Cory Crapser and his No. 07 Oreos/Sour Patch Kids machine will be greeting fans in person at the 220 W. Cherry location in Chanute from 12-2 p.m. Tune your radio to KIKS 101.5 FM to hear live broadcasts from Crapser’s appearance.

The weekend continues Saturday at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., and wraps up Sunday at the Monett Speedway in Monett, Mo.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit www.usmts.com online or call 515-832-7944. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/usmts, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usmts or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/usmtstv.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Modified Touring Series
The Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s Cup powered by S&S Fishing & Rental – Round 1 of 15
81 Speedway, Park City, Kan.
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, hometown, chassis/engine builder, laps completed and money won. The top 12 drivers in passing points accumulated in the heat races were locked into the “A” Main, with the top 8 re-drawing for starting positions 1-8.

MSD HEAT RACE #1 (8 laps):
1. (1) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La.
2. (5) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan.
3. (6) 75 Tad Davis, Mount Hope, Kan.
4. (7) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
5. (8) 15 Greg Stevens, Wichita, Kan.
6. (9) 00 Rodney Chaffin, Wichita, Kan.
7. (2) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
8. (4) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
9. (3) 1t Ryan Taylor (R), Muldrow, Okla.

FAST SHAFTS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. (2) 75 Jon Thompson, Superior, Neb.
2. (3) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas.
3. (7) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan.
4. (6) 747 Colton Eck, Goddard, Kan.
5. (9) MC2 Clint McFadden, Valley Center, Kan.
6. (8) 21b Bryce Schniepp, Wichita, Kan.
7. (4) 7c J.D. Choate, Ponca City, Okla.
8. (5) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
9. (1) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.

EDELBROCK HEAT RACE #3 (8 laps):
1. (1) IOU1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn.
2. (2) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa.
3. (6) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla.
4. (3) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
5. (9) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (5) 40 Brian Green (R), Pierce City, Mo.
7. (4) 07 Cory Crapser (R), Chippewa Falls, Wis.
8. (8) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.
9. (7) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla.

PBM PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS HEAT RACE #4 (8 laps):
1. (4) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo.
2. (1) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
3. (5) K6 Joe Adams, Enid, Okla.
4. (2) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
5. (6) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
6. (3) 93c Carson McKeen, Benton, Kan.
7. (8) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
8. (7) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan.

HEAT RACE #5 (8 laps):
1. (2) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.
2. (4) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan.
3. (1) 66 Greg Burt (R), Enid, Okla.
4. (6) 4a Josh Lanterman, Wichita, Kan.
5. (7) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa.
6. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
7. (3) 5 Johnny Whitmore, Wichita, Kan.
8. (5) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #1 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (1) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D.
2. (2) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla.
3. (7) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (13) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.
5. (6) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla.
6. (10) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan.
7. (11) 7c J.D. Choate, Ponca City, Okla.
8. (8) 21b Bryce Schniepp, Wichita, Kan., Hughes/Mullins, $75.
9. (9) 40 Brian Green (R), Pierce City, Mo., MBR/Marti, $90.
10. (14) 02 Tanner Mullens, Wichita, Kan., Mullens/Mullens, $75.
11. (16) 38 Ronnie Gould III (R), Seminole, Okla., MBCustom/Mullins, $90.
12. (15) 1t Ryan Taylor (R), Muldrow, Okla., Xtreme/CNC, $90.
13. (4) MC2 Clint McFadden, Valley Center, Kan., Custom/Darrell’s, $75.
14. (3) 747 Colton Eck, Goddard, Kan., GRT/Hillsboro, $75.
15. (5) 15 Greg Stevens, Wichita, Kan., Custom/Custom, $75.
16. (12) 5 Johnny Whitmore, Wichita, Kan., RDM/Acme, $75.

REAL RACING WHEELS “B” MAIN #2 (15 laps, top 6 advance):
1. (5) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
2. (8) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M.
3. (4) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M.
4. (15) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas.
5. (10) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla.
6. (13) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.
7. (6) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa.
8. (7) 00 Rodney Chaffin, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/Hebb’s, $75.
9. (1) K6 Joe Adams, Enid, Okla., Hughes/Geddes, $75.
10. (11) 07 Cory Crapser (R), Chippewa Falls, Wis., GRT/Tim’s, $90.
11. (12) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa.
12. (3) 4a Josh Lanterman, Wichita, Kan., Hoffman/KBS, $75.
13. (14) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan.
14. (2) 66 Greg Burt (R), Enid, Okla., BillsBuilt/Dunsworth, $75.
15. (9) 93c Carson McKeen, Benton, Kan., $75.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES “A” MAIN (40 laps):
1. (4) 186 Jeremy Payne, Springfield, Mo., GRT/Durham, 40, $3000.
2. (17) 2s Stormy Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/ProPower, 40, $1500.
3. (11) 12 Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., Hughes/Mullins, 40, $1200.
4. (20) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $900.
5. (1) IOU1 Brent Larson, Lake Elmo, Minn., Shaw/Hill, 40, $800.
6. (18) J17 Jake Gallardo, Las Cruces, N.M., LG2/AOS, 40, $700.
7. (19) 2 Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan., MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $650.
8. (15) 4r Dereck Ramirez, Woodward, Okla., LG2/Cornett, 40, $600.
9. (28) 4 Dan Powers, Wichita, Kan., BillsBuilt/KBS, 40, $450.
10. (10) 75 Tad Davis, Mount Hope, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
11. (23) 65 Tyler Davis, Haysville, Kan., GRT/Hatfield, 40, $375.
12. (14) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan., GRT/Mullins, 40, $400.
13. (22) 91 Joe Duvall, Claremore, Okla., MBCustom/Wornhor, 40, $400.
14. (24) 10 Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan., Hughes/Briley, 40, $275.
15. (25) 99 Jesse Sobbing (R), Malvern, Iowa, MBCustom/Sput’s, 40, $400.
16. (9) 71 Philip Houston, Odessa, Texas, MBCustom/Geddes, 40, $400.
17. (2) 91 Ross Shipman, Belle Plaine, Kan., S&S/Custom, 40, $250.
18. (12) 22d Daniel Hilsabeck, Adel, Iowa, Hilsabeck/Mullins, 40, $400.
19. (21) 87 John Webb, Pauls Valley, Okla., GRT/Wegner, 40, $250.
20. (26) 33z Zack VanderBeek, New Sharon, Iowa, LG2/Sput’s, 40, $400.
21. (6) 97 Cade Dillard, Robeline, La., LG2/Geddes, 40, $400.
22. (7) 75 Jon Thompson, Superior, Neb., Thompson/BMS, 40, $250.
23. (27) 7c J.D. Choate, Ponca City, Okla., GRT/Sput’s, 40, $250.
24. (5) 87 Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan., 40, $250.
25. (16) 1st Johnny Scott, Las Cruces, N.M., MBCustom/Mullins, 40, $300.
26. (13) 2 Casey Arneson (R), Fargo, N.D., GRT/Durham, 40, $400.
DQ – (3) 86 Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan., GRT/Shadow, 40, $0.
DQ – (8) 52 Ryan McAninch, Hutchinson, Kan., GRT/McAninch, 40, $0.

(R) = Rookie of the Year contender.

Lap Leaders: Shipman 1, Franz 2-27, Payne 28-40.
Total Laps Led: Franz 26, Payne 13, Shipman 1.
Margin of Victory: 2.395 seconds.
Provisional Starters: Sobbing VanderBeek, Choate (track), Powers (track).
Sybesma Graphics Pole Award: Payne.
Hard Charger: Sanders (started 20th, finished 3rd).
Entries: 43.
Next Race: Friday, Aug. 7, Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway.
Hunt for the Casey’s Cup Points: Sanders, Sobbing, Ramirez, Junghans, Dillard, VanderBeek, Arneson, S. Scott, Hughes, Larson, Houston, Duvall.
Rookie of the Year Points: Sobbing, C. Arneson, Ben Kates, Gould, Austin Arneson.
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year Points: Geddes 300, Sput’s 255, Mullins 250, Durham 193, Cornett 168.
Manufacturers Championship Points: MBCustom 338, LG2 306, GRT 304, Hughes 252, Hilsabeck 103.

Contingency Awards:
AERO Race Wheels – Arneson.
Allstar Performance – Ramirez.
American Racer – .
Beyea Custom Headers – Larson.
BSB Manufacturing – Dillard.
Chix Gear Racewear – Hughes.
Deatherage Opticians – Payne.
Edelbrock – Larson.
Eibach Springs – Allen.
Fast Shafts – Thompson.
FK Rod Ends – Sobbing.
Forty9Designs.com – Hurd, Webb.
Fuel Safe – Gallardo.
GRT Race Cars – Tad Davis.
Hooker Harness – Duvall.
KEVKO Oil Pans & Components – Powers.
Keyser Manufacturing – Tad Davis.
KSE Racing Products – McAninch.
Marsh Racing Wheels – J. Scott.
Midwest Sheet Metal – Crapser.
MSD Ignition – Dillard, Payne.
PBM Performance Products – Payne.
QA1 – Arneson.
R2C Performance Products – S. Scott.
Real Racing Wheels – all non-qualifiers.
Sybesma Graphics – Payne.
Tilton Engineering – Sanders.
VP Racing Fuels – Franz.
Wehrs Machine & Racing Products – Tyler Davis.
Wilwood Disc Brakes – Junghans.

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USMTS OFFICIAL SPONSORS: American Racer Racing Tires, Casey’s General Stores, Chix Gear Racewear, COMP Cams, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Farm Boy BBQ Sauce, Fast Shafts, Intercomp, KEVKO Oil Pans & Components, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, MSD, Nitroquest Media Group, RACEceiver, RacinDirt.com, S&S Fishing & Rental, VP Racing Fuels.

USMTS PARTICIPATING SPONSORS: Arizona Sport Shirts, ASi Racewear, BRODIX Cylinder Heads, Double H Bands, Duvall Electric, ElbowsUp.com, Integra Racing Shocks & Springs, Mesilla Valley Transportation, Olympic Fire Protection, Rivers Edge Scrap Management, Schwab’s Tinker Shop, UMotors Motorsports & Marine, Velocita-USA.

USMTS CONTINGENCY SPONSORS: AERO Race Wheels, AFCO Racing Products, Allstar Performance, Bell Racing Helmets, Beyea Custom Headers, BSB Manufacturing, CPD Racing Tools, Crane Cams, Driven Racing Oil, Edelbrock, Eibach Springs, FK Rod Ends, Forty9 Designs, Fuel Safe, Genesis Racing Shocks, GRT Race Cars, Holley Performance, Hooker Custom Harness, JRi Shocks, Keyser Manufacturing, KSE Racing Products, Marsh Racing Wheels, Midwest Sheet Metal, PBM Performance Products, QA1 Precision Products, Quarter Master, R2C Performance, Real Racing Wheels, Simpson Performance Products, Sybesma Graphics, Tilton Engineering, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products, Wilwood Disc Brakes.

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Contact Info:

Jeff Nun